Don’t Let a Leaky Chimney Damper Your Spring Season

Leaky chimneys pose quite a headache for households in North and South Carolina. Whether it’s in Charlotte, Rock Hill or Fort Mill, home owners are plagued with this inconvenience and not to mention a toll on their pocketbooks. It is a problem that has to be dealt with and cannot be avoided.

A lack of maintenance can also be a factor in chimney leaks. The number one cause of leaky chimneys is the degradation of the flashing. The flashing is the material applied around the chimney where it meets the roof to prevent run off from entering through any cracks. Another common cause of leaky chimneys is the use of porous bricks. This type of brick leads to the absorption of water into the chimney and during the winter, the freeze thaw cycle causes the brick to break apart from the mortar joint. This causes a gap where water enters the chimney structure. This moisture in turn is grabbed by gravity and pulled downward behind the flashing at the roof line. It then enters the attic, and then into the walls of the home.Chimney leak problems occur frequently in North and South Carolina, where a good deal of precipitation is accumulated in part due to the close proximity to the Lake Wylie. Most home owners assume the roof is the cause of leakage when in fact there is a greater chance it may be the chimney. This is due to the difference in construction methods. Chimneys are made of different materials compared to the roofing of a house. This can cause a variety of problems to occur.

Chimney leakage usually occurs during the late fall through the rainy spring season. In order to prevent a leaking chimney, the best course of action is to take preventative measures. Regular maintenance and check-ups for your chimney will ensure that leaks do not occur.

If you are experiencing a leaky roof, remember it could be your chimney that is leaking. Contact me at 704.724-1424 immediately, and make an appointment for me to come out and inspect your leaky chimney, and solve your problem. A leaky chimney in North and South Carolina is no way to spend this Springtime season.